Cyprus Nears €150 Million Naval Deal With Israel, Reports Differ on Whether It Is Signed

Cyprus has been building up its naval and air defense capabilities with Israeli suppliers, according to two reports that differ on how far the latest deal has progressed. The earlier background comes first. Less than a decade ago, Israel Shipyards supplied Cyprus with a patrol vessel equipped with radar, command-and-control systems and two Typhoon naval weapon stations, according to The National Herald.

Israel has also supplied Cyprus with the Barak MX air and missile defense system, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The National Herald reports that the system was displayed in a military parade in Nicosia in early October, marking the 66th anniversary of Cyprus’s independence.

The National Herald, citing the Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist, reports that Cyprus is in advanced negotiations with Israel Shipyards and Rafael for a deal worth approximately €150 million. Under the proposed arrangement, Israel Shipyards would supply the vessels and Rafael would provide the weapons systems. The report says the agreement is being pursued through a government-to-government (G2G) framework and is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, once terms are finalized by the Israeli and Cypriot defense ministries.

GreekReporter.com gives a different account. It reports that Cyprus has already signed a defense agreement with Israel for a new naval patrol vessel. According to that report, the deal involves advanced Israeli technology and military expertise and marks a significant expansion of bilateral security cooperation. GreekReporter.com does not give a value for the agreement, and it does not name the companies involved. The two reports therefore disagree on whether the deal has been signed, and the cost figure comes only from The National Herald.

The National Herald also reports additional Cypriot interest in Israeli systems. Citing Maariv, it says Cyprus is strengthening its air defenses with an additional Barak MX battery, a move that has reportedly raised concern in Turkey. The same report cites Cypriot interest in the Drone Dome counter-drone system, the Lite Beam laser system and the Iron Dome missile defense system. The reports do not say whether any of these systems have been ordered.

GreekReporter.com describes the planned vessel as expected to enhance Cyprus’s maritime surveillance capabilities, and it places Cyprus as a strategically located island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean that has been increasingly aligning its defense policies with Israel’s. Turkey’s reported concern about the Barak MX battery is the only response from another government that either report mentions. Defense planning that weighs the concerns of neighbors reflects peacemaking (Romans 12:18).